IT industry uses most UK work permits

August 26 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Work in the UK in IT

UK IT companies took on work visa holders at twice the rate of other professional services industries, according to new figures.

During 2008 around 30,000 IT staff from outside the EU were employed by the British IT industry. This was boosted by the intra-company transfer (ICT) clause which allows international firms to appoint foreign employees, transferring them to work in the UK from abroad.

The rest of the professional services sector appointed just 14,255 work visa holders in 2008, showing that IT is by far the most popular profession among people coming to work in the UK in professional services.

The number of transferred staff moving to the UK through their IT firms was five times the number doing so to work in finance or law.

The majority of those coming to work in the UK IT industry from outside the EU came from India according to the figures obtained by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSC).

The ICTs are currently a good route for those wishing to experience living in the UK, while working for their current employer.

The APSC is calling for roles to be advertised in the UK before firms are allowed to transfer staff in from abroad.

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